The Enneagram: Your Ticket to Discovering Your Personality Awesomeness
Erica Wiley
Hello there, Wishies! For any of you on a journey of self-discovery, this Blog post is most definitely for you! If you’re not on any journey of any kind, that’s ok too - I bet you can still find something in the following of value and/or entertainment! 😜
Have you ever wondered why you do the things you do, and why your friends, family, or coworkers act the way they do? If it’s never crossed your mind…are you even human? What’s your secret, lol?!?! For the rest of you, if the thought of having more insight into your personality, relationships, and personal growth is intriguing, then finding out your Enneagram is definitely for you! I was introduced to by a former colleague (thank you, Erin if you ever see this 🤗) and was seriously mind-blown on how accurate the results were!
First things first, what is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a personality system with 9 types that each have their own core drives, fears, and motivations. Your type is determined by your innate traits and shaped by life experiences. Finding your Enneagram type can help you understand why you make the choices that you do. Here's an article from Women's Health Mag if you want to get into even more detail!
How do you find out what Enneagram you are?
There a lot of different resources online but some require providing an email, personal info or payment. You can click here to take a FREE Enneagram test (and don’t have to provide an email address or any info for the basic version. It will take about 10-12 minutes to complete the full questionnaire. Don't overthink it and answer honestly! I also follow this account @enneagramandcoaching on Instagram which has a lot of great and useful info that is quick and easy to digest!
What are some of the benefits of knowing your personality type?
- Self-Discovery: Can help you to understand your unique traits and motivations.
- Improved Relationships: Imagine being able to “figure out” the behavior of your partner, friend, or co-worker...sounds too good to be true, right?! The Enneagram can help you understand those around you better, enhancing communication and reducing conflicts!
- Personal Growth: Knowing your strengths AND the areas where you can improve/work on can help you to become the best version of yourself.
- Stress Management: Recognizing how your Enneagram type responds to stress can help in learning healthier coping strategies and avoiding burnout.
Quick rundown/basics on the 9 Personality Types:
#1 - The Perfectionist (The Reformer): These peeps are driven by a desire for perfection and have a knack for making the world a better place. Ones can lead through integrity and reason, but also be challenged by perfectionism and resentment.
#2 - The Helper: These are the caring, nurturing souls who always have your back. They'd give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. Twos can shine with generosity and intuiting people’s needs, but also struggle with defending their own boundaries and people-pleasing.***Side Note: I am a #2 or a Helper
#3 - The Achiever: Success is the name of their game. They're ambitious, go-getters who aim high. Threes can be inspiring examples of excellence and authenticity, but also blindly pursue success and status.
#4 - The Individualist: Artistic, creative, and emotionally deep, these folks have a strong sense of identity. Fours can open people’s eyes to the beauty of the world and shine with authenticity, but also be held back by moodiness and self-absorption.
#5 - The Investigator: These are the brainiacs, the problem solvers. They crave knowledge and can spend hours researching a topic just for fun. Fives can demonstrate visionary intellect and inventiveness or become increasingly socially withdrawn and secretive.
#6 - The Loyalist: They're the cautious and committed types, always ready to support their friends. Sixes can exemplify courage and commitment, but also struggle with anxiety and rebelliousness.
#7 - The Enthusiast: Fun-loving and adventurous, they're all about chasing excitement, new experiences, and never-ending joy. Sevens can become uplifting visionaries and agents for positive change or struggle with impulsiveness and impatience.
#8 - The Challenger: Bold and assertive, these individuals stand up for what they believe in. They're the fearless leaders in the group. Eights can be powerful, but also control and intimidate others.
#9 - The Peacemaker:: They strive for harmony, avoiding conflict like it's a plague. These peaceful peeps are the glue that holds relationships together. Nines can bring people together and heal conflicts or be held back by passivity and stubbornness.
The Enneagram is not just some woo woo magic ✨ (though I do love a lot of woo woo, too!); it's informative and fun, and I’ve found it a very useful tool for personal growth and self-discovery. Whether you're looking to understand yourself or a love one better, improve your relationships, or simply explore the quirks of your personality, figuring out your Enneagram should be on your to-do list!
Love and light,
Erica